Berg to Beaches: Southern Drakensberg to the Transkei Wild Coast

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OUR NEXT BERG TO BEACHES TOUR: 2019 - WATCH THIS SPACE FOR TOUR DATES

The Adventure

The piece of land stretching from the Lesotho border of the Southern Drakensberg, on to the wild coastline of the Eastern Cape, has had many names and many battles fought over its ownership. Sections of it have even been declared “independent” at one time in our history. The one thing that cannot be disputed about this place however, is it incredible beauty and rich and colourful history.

Join us on a journey into the frontier countryside of the Eastern Cape in a journey from Rhodes to the Transkei Wild Coast.

The Team

Your tour leader is an experienced nature conservationist and adventure guide. He will be in radio contact with you at all times to impart a wealth of biological, cultural, historic and 4-wheel-drive knowledge.

We will be enjoying all our breakfasts and suppers at the guest houses en route and the Mpafa guide and his assistant will be preparing picnic lunches for you during the daily excursions.

Adventure Itinerary

Day 1:

Our adventure starts in the quaint, little Eastern Cape town of Rhodes. We meet in the late afternoon at The Walkabouts Guest House in the town. Although the group will be staying in a number of renovated historic cottages, we will be having all our meals together at Walkabouts.

Over a wonderful traditional Eastern Cape dinner, you guide will elaborate on what awaits you for the next few days.

Day 2:

After one of many wholesome English style breakfasts, we head off on a trip down memory lane.

We drive through beautiful valleys and over the 3rd highest pass in South Africa, the Volunteershoek (Bidstone) Pass

As it is summer time, the veld is verdant green and a quilt of colourful mountain flowers will delight you. We will visit the famous Tiffendale Ski Resort (though there will be no snow sadly) before returning to Rhodes in the late afternoon for a craft beer tasting.

Day 3:

Today, we head east - our destination, the Transkei Wild Coast. Our route takes us over the Naude’s Nek Pass that once was a bridal path connecting the farms of all the Naude brothers. This is the second highest Pass (Sani being highest) in South Africa.

We take back roads to avoid the hustle and bustle of Mtata to arrive at our home on the Wild Coast, the Ocean View Hotel at Coffee Bay, where we stay for the next two nights. This family-run establishment is on the beach front and is renowned for its hospitality and outstanding food!

Day 4:

Today we visit the famous Hole-in-the-Wall and have some time to relax and enjoy the coast.

Day 5:

It is time to move north to yet another gem of the Wild Coast along Pondo Land. Once again, we wind our way along a number of Wild Coast tracks and back roads to explore as much of the unique Pondo culture as possible.

We cross a number of low-level bridges and get some spectacular views of the rolling hills, colourful homesteads and unspoilt estuaries. Our route takes us via the little town of Port St Johns and the beautiful Mzimvubu River.

Day 6:

Today we visit a number of exciting attractions in the area which will include a visit to the Magwa Tea Estate, the Magwa Waterfall, the Angel Falls, the famous shipwreck site of the Grosvenor and all its history. We will also have the unique opportunity of visiting a massive Cape Vulture colony and get up close and personal with these very rare scavengers as they take flight from the cliffs nearby.

After a long day, we return back to the lodge for a good meal and a good night’s rest.

Day 7:

Sadly, after breakfast, we say our goodbyes. We all have about an hour’s drive, on a good tarred road, to get onto the N2 just west of Mtata.